Dr Genevieve Williams

About me:

Dr Genevieve Williams' research interest lie in the coordination and control of human movement. Particularly, in how the stability and adaptability of the dynamics of movement change as a function of skill level, perturbation, ageing or pathology.

Dr Williams is part of the INTERSECT Human Movement group, and the Exeter Biomechanics Research Team (ExBiRT) and Co-directs Exeter Head Impact Brain Impact and Trauma (ExHIBIT) research group.

Human movement control is inherently complex, requiring the integration and functioning of multiple systems to effectively perform even the simplest of tasks. Simultaneously considering multiple systems in understanding movement control, taking a systems level approach, is a frontier in the field of human movement science. My research aims to understand the characteristics and mechanisms of movement control through systems level approaches relating to perception-action coupling, neuromuscular function, and biomechanics. I work to translate this knowledge into applied contexts to assess, rehabilitate and increase the effectiveness and efficiency of human movement based on a data driven approach.

Theme 1: Dynamics stability of human movement. Based on a systems level approach my work considers how humans satisfy the mechanical demands of tasks in inherently biological ways, employing dynamic, adaptable strategies. For example, even simple tasks such as standing or walking require dynamic (changing over time) control to maintain a stable movement outcome (standing still or walking steadily). My work is providing new basic science insight into motor control related to standing and walking in healthy, ageing, and pathological populations by studying how control is achieved through the integration of sensory information from multiple sources (vision, proprioception, vestibular) coupled with the instigation of motor output to satisfy mechanical demands that can be understood at the level of joint and centre of mass motion. This work is crucial to improve quality of life and treatment outcomes in people with motor control problems.

Theme 2: Head vibration and impact in sports and occupational settings. Currently, there is no test that is quick and easy to use for quantifying acute, functional changes in cognitive, visual, and motor control function after exposure to head vibration and/or impact in sports and occupation settings. Key from a health and safety perspective, my work aims to 1) develop, evaluate, and implement a very quick (sub 3 minutes), quantitative test for changes in neuro-cognitive visuo-motor function after exposure to vibration or a blow to the head in sports and occupational contexts, and 2) inform safety standards relating to levels of exposure to vibration at, or transferred to the head. This work is crucial to tackle the long-term effects of (sub)concussion injury in sport and occupational hazards associated with exposure to whole body vibration. My work is interdisciplinary and engaged with key partners such as national governing bodies in sport and industry to support knowledge exchange and a pathway to research impact.

Dr Williams is part of the INTERSECT Human Movement group, and the Exeter Biomechanics Research Team (ExBiRT) and Co-directs Exeter Head Impact Brain Impact and Trauma (ExHIBIT) research group.

Mar 2020 Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

July 2015 Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

July 2015 PGCert Teaching in Higher Education, Anglia Ruskin University, UK.

Oct 2008- Nov 2012 PhD, School of Sport, Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK.

Oct 2005- July 2008 1st Class BSc (Hons.) Sport and Exercise Sciences, School of Sport, Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK.

Senior Lecturer (Dec 2021-), Public Health & Sport Sciences, Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, University of Exeter, UK.

Sept 2017-Dec 2021 Lecturer, Public Health & Sport Sciences, Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, University of Exeter, UK.

Sept 2016-Sept 2017 Senior Lecturer and Co-Director Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge UK.

Sept 2014-Sept 2016 Lecturer, Faculty of Science and Technology, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge UK.

Sept 2013- Sept 2014 Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Department of Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Development, The Pennsylvania State University, USA.

April 2013- Sept 2013 Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Department of Kinesiology, School of Public Health and Health Science, University of Massachusetts, USA.